Conscience-Consideration - Inconsideration.

to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 10: 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience' sake. for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

131. Conscience, the cause of great comfort or sorrow.

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Pr. 14: 14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. — 18: 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

2 Cor. 1: 12 Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world. [See 573.]

CONSIDERATION.

132. Consideration required — inconsideration reproved.

Dt. 4: 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God. -32: 29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Job 37: 14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Ps. 28: 5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. 50: 21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. 22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.- 111: 4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered.

Pr. 4: 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 6: 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard: consider her ways, and be wise.

Duty and Advantages of Contentment-Courage required.

Ec. 7: 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider.

Is. 1: 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 5: 12 The harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. 13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge. Hos. 7: 2 They consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickedness.

Hag. 1:5 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. [See 693.]

CONTENTMENT.

133. Duty and advantages of contentment.

Ph. 4: 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1 Tim. 6: 6 Godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.

Heb. 13: 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [See 626.]

COURAGE.

134. Courage and resolution required and exemplified — promises.

Dt. 31: 6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Josh. 1: 9 Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

1 Ch. 28: 20 David said to Solomon his son, Be strong, and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

2 Ch. 19: 11 Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.

Ezra 10: 2 Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Flam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed

Courtesy required - Covetousness prevalent - forbidden.

against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it. 5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word.

Neh. 6: 11 I said, should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

Ps. 27: 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

31: 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. [See 460, 461.]

COURTESY.

135. Courtesy exemplified and required.

Mat. 26: 50 Jesus said unto him, [Judas] Friend, wherefore art thou come?

Ac. 27: 3 Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

28: 7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

1 Pet. 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. [See 459.]

COVETOUSNESS.

136. Prevalence of covetousness.

Ph. 2: 21 All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. [See 689, and "Spurious" in the Index.]

Ex. 20: 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

Pr. 28: 16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

Threatened and punished.

Lk. 12: 15 He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Ep. 5: 3 Fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.

Ph. 2: 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Col. 3: 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Heb. 13: 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [See 174, 413.]

138. Threats and punishment for the covetous.

Ps. 10: 3 The wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

Is. 57:17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

Mic. 2: 2 They covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. 3 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall yo go haughtily for this time is evil.

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Hab. 2: 9 Wo to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

1 Cor. 5: 11 Now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such an one no not to eat.

The effect of divine Power.

6: 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Ep. 5: 5 This ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Jude 11 Wo unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. [See 733.]

CREATION.

139. Creation, the effect of divine power.

Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Neh. 9: 6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all.

Ps. 33: 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Is. 42: 5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.

Jn. 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

Ep. 3: 9 God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Col. 1: 16 By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

Heb. 3: 4 Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Rev. 4: 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

140. How long was God in creating the world?

Gen. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended